La Femme Nikita. Adam Samuelle. 021. Friends.
Title: Takedown
Fandom: La Femme Nikita
Characters: Michael/Nikita, Madeline; Adam, Operations, and six canon characters mentioned/referred to
Prompt: 021. Friends.
Word count: 827
Rating: PGish
Summary: “Winning a Battle, Losing the War”
Author's Notes: Spoilers through Season 3; original dialogue from “Third Party Ripoff.”
Takedown
It was ridiculous. And a bit ironic. Nikita had already decided to “extricate the personal component” named Michael from their relationship before speaking to Madeline.
She knew he was brilliant, and he’d once told her he needed to act ruthless to gain the respect of his team. But he crossed the line on the Bergomi mission, and Nikita pulled back. Regardless of his words; his explanation that he’d been playing a part, she felt like she didn’t know the real Michael after all.
It was a moot point now. Obviously, Michael knew that Madeline had talked to her, or he wouldn’t have come to her apartment.
“They don’t want us to be together.”
“No, they don’t.”
“What about you?” And Nikita had been drawn back to Michael like a moth to a flame. But Michael was the one who got burned.
Operations and Madeline felt threatened by Michael’s success with Bergomi. Even George was singing his praises. They needn’t have worried. Michael knew he wasn’t ready to take over the Perch; had admitted as much to Nikita. That didn’t stop the older man from using Michael’s continuing physical relationship with Nikita to take him down. And it was getting to him. Nikita knew that slotting Michael, Section’s best Level Five Op, as a member of Davenport’s team, was only the beginning. Where would it end? Michael said it didn’t matter.
“Whatever I do, I need to do it well. The best I can. That means something to me. Whatever they want to do to me, I can handle.”
That hadn’t stopped Michael from stiffening against Nikita as they watched his office being dismantled. Being profiled as Back-Up on a Level Three Op’s team hadn’t bothered Michael enough for him to pull away, so Madeline had relieved him of his position as head of Tactical Oversight. With Michael’s skills, the subsequent loss of life could have been prevented, and he knew it.
“Davenport’s capable,” he pronounced. End of argument.
The bubble bath had been Nikita’s idea. They were at Michael’s apartment, away from surveillance, and Nikita thought being able to hold each other in a warm tub of scented, sudsy water would help Michael to relax. It didn’t.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Something Michael’s son might say. But Adam was four; a child. Michael was a Cold Op; one of Section’s most valuable resources. Yet Section’s tactics were reducing Michael to the same stubborn mind-set as Adam. Unlike his taciturn father, however, Adam could be coaxed into verbalizing his emotions. Nikita knew better than to expect Michael to admit he was troubled.
Instead, she went to Madeline.
“He’s yours,” she ceded, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You win.”
Madeline wasn’t appeased.
“It has to come from him. And it has to be his idea, not yours.” Now, who was acting like a four-year old?
“What are you asking me?”
“That he stops loving you.”
Nikita snorted. “And how do I do that?”
Her love for Michael, and his for her, had been nearly five years in the making; from the moment Nikita had awakened in the White Room. Had survived Jurgen, Adrian, and the unveiling and removal of Michael’s mission wife. Had weathered the loss of Adam. Love wasn’t something that could be turned on and off with a switch. Not with Nikita, and certainly not with Michael.
“You have to want it to happen.”
* * * * *
Nikita’s arguments were persuasive, especially in light of the mission Michael had just saved for Davenport.
“You can’t deny to yourself what happened. You’re a Level Five. That’s the only way you can live.”
“I don’t want to think about it right now.”
Given the choice, he never would. And missions would fail, people would die; all because Michael was behaving as maturely as Adam.
“You’re going to have to,” Nikita countered. “Because when you lead missions, we survive.” Nikita let this sink in, feeling Michael’s pain as emotions flitted across his face. He wanted his job back. Needed it. There was only one way that could happen.
Nikita tried to smile. “If we end it now, then we can at least preserve our…friendship.” God, did that sound as clichéd and contrived as it did back in high school? Michael reached to stroke her hair, her cheek; but she turned away, not wanting him to see her tears.
Could it work? They’d been colleagues and lovers; adversaries and teammates. The thought weighed heavily on her mind. “Can we still be friends?” Nikita didn’t know.
“We can’t play this game anymore
But can we still be friends?
Things just can’t go on like before
But can we still be friends?
We had something to learn
Now it’s time for the wheel to turn
Grains of sand, one by one
Before you know it, all gone
Let’s admit we made a mistake
But can we still be friends?
Heartbreak’s never easy to take
But can we still be friends?”
~ Vonda Shepard
My fanfic100 prompt table is here.
Fandom: La Femme Nikita
Characters: Michael/Nikita, Madeline; Adam, Operations, and six canon characters mentioned/referred to
Prompt: 021. Friends.
Word count: 827
Rating: PGish
Summary: “Winning a Battle, Losing the War”
Author's Notes: Spoilers through Season 3; original dialogue from “Third Party Ripoff.”
Takedown
It was ridiculous. And a bit ironic. Nikita had already decided to “extricate the personal component” named Michael from their relationship before speaking to Madeline.
She knew he was brilliant, and he’d once told her he needed to act ruthless to gain the respect of his team. But he crossed the line on the Bergomi mission, and Nikita pulled back. Regardless of his words; his explanation that he’d been playing a part, she felt like she didn’t know the real Michael after all.
It was a moot point now. Obviously, Michael knew that Madeline had talked to her, or he wouldn’t have come to her apartment.
“They don’t want us to be together.”
“No, they don’t.”
“What about you?” And Nikita had been drawn back to Michael like a moth to a flame. But Michael was the one who got burned.
Operations and Madeline felt threatened by Michael’s success with Bergomi. Even George was singing his praises. They needn’t have worried. Michael knew he wasn’t ready to take over the Perch; had admitted as much to Nikita. That didn’t stop the older man from using Michael’s continuing physical relationship with Nikita to take him down. And it was getting to him. Nikita knew that slotting Michael, Section’s best Level Five Op, as a member of Davenport’s team, was only the beginning. Where would it end? Michael said it didn’t matter.
“Whatever I do, I need to do it well. The best I can. That means something to me. Whatever they want to do to me, I can handle.”
That hadn’t stopped Michael from stiffening against Nikita as they watched his office being dismantled. Being profiled as Back-Up on a Level Three Op’s team hadn’t bothered Michael enough for him to pull away, so Madeline had relieved him of his position as head of Tactical Oversight. With Michael’s skills, the subsequent loss of life could have been prevented, and he knew it.
“Davenport’s capable,” he pronounced. End of argument.
The bubble bath had been Nikita’s idea. They were at Michael’s apartment, away from surveillance, and Nikita thought being able to hold each other in a warm tub of scented, sudsy water would help Michael to relax. It didn’t.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Something Michael’s son might say. But Adam was four; a child. Michael was a Cold Op; one of Section’s most valuable resources. Yet Section’s tactics were reducing Michael to the same stubborn mind-set as Adam. Unlike his taciturn father, however, Adam could be coaxed into verbalizing his emotions. Nikita knew better than to expect Michael to admit he was troubled.
Instead, she went to Madeline.
“He’s yours,” she ceded, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You win.”
Madeline wasn’t appeased.
“It has to come from him. And it has to be his idea, not yours.” Now, who was acting like a four-year old?
“What are you asking me?”
“That he stops loving you.”
Nikita snorted. “And how do I do that?”
Her love for Michael, and his for her, had been nearly five years in the making; from the moment Nikita had awakened in the White Room. Had survived Jurgen, Adrian, and the unveiling and removal of Michael’s mission wife. Had weathered the loss of Adam. Love wasn’t something that could be turned on and off with a switch. Not with Nikita, and certainly not with Michael.
“You have to want it to happen.”
* * * * *
Nikita’s arguments were persuasive, especially in light of the mission Michael had just saved for Davenport.
“You can’t deny to yourself what happened. You’re a Level Five. That’s the only way you can live.”
“I don’t want to think about it right now.”
Given the choice, he never would. And missions would fail, people would die; all because Michael was behaving as maturely as Adam.
“You’re going to have to,” Nikita countered. “Because when you lead missions, we survive.” Nikita let this sink in, feeling Michael’s pain as emotions flitted across his face. He wanted his job back. Needed it. There was only one way that could happen.
Nikita tried to smile. “If we end it now, then we can at least preserve our…friendship.” God, did that sound as clichéd and contrived as it did back in high school? Michael reached to stroke her hair, her cheek; but she turned away, not wanting him to see her tears.
Could it work? They’d been colleagues and lovers; adversaries and teammates. The thought weighed heavily on her mind. “Can we still be friends?” Nikita didn’t know.
“We can’t play this game anymore
But can we still be friends?
Things just can’t go on like before
But can we still be friends?
We had something to learn
Now it’s time for the wheel to turn
Grains of sand, one by one
Before you know it, all gone
Let’s admit we made a mistake
But can we still be friends?
Heartbreak’s never easy to take
But can we still be friends?”
~ Vonda Shepard
My fanfic100 prompt table is here.